asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that are to be closed in Counties Laois and Offaly for economic reasons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois/Offaly School Closures.
39.
Mr. R. Burke
No national school is closed for economic reasons. The Government policy relating to the reorganisation of national schools to provide larger school units is based on educational considerations.
Would the Minister let me know the schools in Laois and Offaly that are being reorganised and in which closure will be effected?
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy wishes to have specific information, I would ask him to put down a question.
The Minister has the information. It is in his Department. I do not know it.
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy can ask the question, I cannot.
Can the Minister not answer it? The Minister must have the information. Is it not a well known fact anyway?
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy wishes to have information, I would ask him to put down a specific question.
Additional information would require another question, Deputy.
In other words, the Minister is about to hide it.
Question No. 40.
That is a stupid answer, if you will excuse the expression. It is ridiculous. I asked the number of schools about to be closed. The Minister has twisted it round. This is what I call playing the old game but the Minister is not going to get away with it. What are the names of the schools I asked about? The Minister stated, in his reply, that they are not closed for economic reasons. If they are not being closed for economic reasons, then what are the reasons? In a reply the Minister gave in December last economic reasons were mentioned in the tabular reply.
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy adverts to the question he will find that he asked the number of schools that are to be closed due to economic reasons. The answer is: "No national school is closed for economic reasons...". Therefore the point made by the Deputy in his supplementary question does not arise.
Has the Minister got information in his brief as to how many schools, for whatever reason, are being closed in the area?
Mr. R. Burke
No.